Central Corfu Municipality draws up evacuation plans in case of fire
CORFU. 70 fines were issued for private plots that had not been cleared.
The Central Corfu Municipality is ready to deal with fires that may occur due to the high temperatures and winds expected in Corfu next week.
A meeting is expected to be held on Tuesday 25 July between the relevant Municipal Departments, while the Civil Protection Coordinating Body is also expected to meet.
Evacuation plans
As the Deputy Mayor for Everyday Life and Civil Protection Haris Yiotis told reporters, following a decision by Mayor Meropi Ydraou and according to the General Secretariat for Civil Protection, a group has been set up that has drawn up an evacuation plan for each community. Special plans have been drawn up for communities that have settlements.
Mr. Yiotis is the head of the group, while the Police, the Fire Department, the Coast Guard, the Corfu Hospital and EKAB are all participating.
"In the recent fires that affected Attica, Evia and Rhodes, great emphasis was placed on preventive evacuation. That is why there were no victims. As a Municipality, we have given priority to this. Our policy is to evacuate the population if there is a fire - either partially or completely. As a Municipality we are in readiness with all our means and staff in cooperation with all bodies and especially the Fire Department," said Mr. Yiotis.
Grass and bushes being cleared
As he said, however, the most important thing is prevention. According to him, the Municipality receives €156,000 every year in order to clear the roads, private plots that their owners do not clear them, municipal plots and plots belonging to public legal entities.
"They are being cleared with our own staff and machinery and as a Municipality we have allocated €186,000 to clear the sides of the road from grass and bushes. It concerns 650km for all Municipalities and the Diapontia Islands.
We have included and contracted 33.5 stremma for municipal plots and 52 stremma for private plots," he explained.
Many complaints
Especially for private plots, he said that there are many complaints about uncleared areas and the Civil Protection Department has already carried out inspections. In fact, 70 fines have been issued so far.
"They have the right within 10 days to appeal against the decision and if they clean it up in the meantime the fine can be halved. If they do not clean it up, the Municipality is required to clean it up with its own resources or through a contractor that it already has," he said.
The fine for the Central Corfu Municipality has been set at €496 per stremma following a decision by the Municipal Council and the Finance Committee.
MARIA BAZDRIYIANNI
